My trip to Munich had a major problem: I was going to arrive in the middle of one of their major trade fair weeks, so every hotel I asked for a quotation either a) didn’t bother to offer me a room for just a couple of days because they were expecting reservations for the full week; or b) simply applied a 20% or 30% increase in their usual rates. Finally I got a single room at the Amba at 150 Euro/day. I was aware that such a room should be worth 100 or 120 Euro in a normal week which is not too much for central Munich; therefore I went there without too many expectations about the hotel. My guess was right and the hotel is a mix of nice points and not-so-nice points. The bathroom is definitely a point to improve: it was not dirty and everything worked but it was clearly old and used, with early-eighties brownish tiles and sanitaryware. It was definitely not the bathroom chosen to illustrate their website. The rest of the room was OK, for the walls looked freshly painted and the carpet also looked quite new. Bed, mattress, closet, lighting… were also new so my guess is that the hotel had already refurbished this room and simply decided that the bathroom could wait for later. Bad choice in my opinion, because the contrast was even more evident! But in conclusion it was not an unpleasant stay. Staff was professional and I agree with the previous review that breakfast was a over the average.

Spent the last two weeks of May, 2006, at the Amba. Perfect location as a base for touring Germany, Austria and Switzerland by rail as it is opposite the main train station. The place is spotless, brightly furnished and quiet. Staff is friendly and efficient. Apparently this place is mostly booked solid by German visitors to Munich. Breakfast is plentiful and buffet style in very nice room. Internet in lobby is cheap and usually available. Walking distance to some of the fabulous Munich beer gardens. The room was small but comfortable and being German, everything was in working order. At 95e this was a steal.

The hotel could not be more convenient for the central train station, literally opposite the rear entrance by platform 36. Easy to walk to the Marienplatz (about 15 minutes) but even easier to use the underground from the station. Our first room was a bit tatty and had no shower (but it did have a bath). We asked to move and the (very friendly and helpful) front desk staff moved us into a larger room with better decor and a spotless shower etc. They are plainly renovating the place a floor at a time as other rooms on our new floor looked equally good albeit a bit smaller than ours (if booking ask for room 508). The breakfasts were among the very best that we have found in Europe. Massive choice of meats, pate, cheeses, cereals, jams, boiled eggs, fruit and delicious bread in a really bright and welcoming room. Coffee, fruit juices and many flavours of tea. Set us up perfectly for the day's sight seeing. It is not five star, but for a truly good hotal at a very fair price in a great city I would recommend the Amba to anybody.

The Minotel is centrally situated, spotlessly clean and well-run. My single room was very small, but for the price (38 euro) I had no complaints. I had to book a shower room (key from Reception) but this worked very well - always available, clean towels and mat every time, very modern shower. Bit of noise at night, from the streets, but this is a feature of all downtown hotels in any city. If you are on a tight budget, the Alba is more than OK.